Scotty McCreery

WALLINGFORD — Country music star Scotty McCreery’s career has taken a serious upward trajectory in recent weeks. And fans will have a chance to celebrate with him when he rolls into Connecticut on December 4.

In an exclusive interview with The Newtown Bee, country music and American Idol star Scotty McCreery (right) is asking fans and followers planning to send him birthday gifts on October 9 to instead make a donation to The 12.14 Foundation. McCreery, the organization’s National Goodwill Ambassador, is pictured here with Foundation founder and Newtown resident Dr Michael Baroody.

The father of two young children, Newtown resident Dr Michael Baroody saw the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, as “an assault on our soul, with no verbal way to communicate what had happened. I felt like I had lost my own kids, but I realized that my world is not just my living room. These Newtown children are our kids and it is our responsibility to protect our kids.”